How to Say "If" in Chinese: 如果…就… (Rúguǒ Jiù) and 要是

To say if in Chinese, use 如果 (rúguǒ) before the condition and 就 (jiù) before the result: 如果 + condition，subject + 就 + result. For example, 如果明天下雨，我们就不去了 means "If it rains tomorrow, we won't go." In casual speech, 要是 (yàoshi) often replaces 如果, and 的话 can close the condition.

如果 is an HSK 3 word in the HSK 2.0 list, and 要是 comes in at HSK 4. This article covers the 如果…就… pattern, where 就 goes, 要是 vs. 如果, 如果…的话, how to say "if not" and how to ask "what if," with dialogues, common mistakes and a quiz. For the other patterns at this level, see our HSK 3 grammar list.

If in Chinese: The Quick Answer

A Chinese "if" sentence has two halves, and the condition comes first.

如果 (rúguǒ) opens the condition: "if."
就 (jiù) sits before the result: "then," or "in that case."

如果 + Condition，Subject + 就 + Result

如果明天下雨，我们就不去爬山了。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ míngtiān xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù bú qù pá shān le.
- English: If it rains tomorrow, we won't go hiking.

English lets you say "We won't go hiking if it rains." Chinese almost always puts the "if" part first. Think of it as setting the scene before you say what happens in it.

How to Use 如果…就… (Rúguǒ Jiù)

Two things trip learners up here: where the subject goes, and where 就 goes. One rule covers both. 就 is an adverb, and Chinese adverbs sit after the subject and right before the verb.

One Subject

When the same person is in both halves, you can say the subject once. It can go before or after 如果.

(Subject) + 如果 + Condition，就 + Result

如果你有时间，就来我家吃饭吧。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu shíjiān, jiù lái wǒ jiā chī fàn ba.
- English: If you have time, come over to my place for dinner.
你如果累了，就早点儿睡吧。
- Pinyin: Nǐ rúguǒ lèi le, jiù zǎo diǎnr shuì ba.
- English: If you're tired, go to bed a bit earlier.

Two Subjects: 就 Goes After the Second Subject

When the result has its own subject, that subject comes before 就. This is the most common mistake with the pattern.

如果 + Subject A + Condition，Subject B + 就 + Result

如果你不想去，我就一个人去。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bù xiǎng qù, wǒ jiù yí ge rén qù.
- English: If you don't want to go, I'll go by myself.
如果老板同意，我们就下个月去日本。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ lǎobǎn tóngyì, wǒmen jiù xià ge yuè qù Rìběn.
- English: If the boss agrees, we'll go to Japan next month.

Say "我就," never "就我." It is the same word order you use with 一…就…, which our guide to 一…就… for "as soon as" explains.

Real and Unreal "If"

English changes the verb for an imagined past: "If I had left earlier, I wouldn't have been late." Chinese has no special verb form for this. The same 如果…就… does the job, and 了 at the end plus the context tell you it didn't happen.

如果我早点儿出门，就不会迟到了。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ wǒ zǎo diǎnr chū mén, jiù bú huì chídào le.
- English: If I had left a bit earlier, I wouldn't have been late.

Out of context, it could also mean "If I leave earlier, I won't be late," but the situation almost always makes it clear.

When You Can Leave Out 就

Is 就 required? Not always. It is normal when the result is a plan, a decision or a consequence. When the second half is a suggestion with its own subject, people often skip it.

如果你明天有空，我们一起去看电影吧。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ míngtiān yǒu kòng, wǒmen yìqǐ qù kàn diànyǐng ba.
- English: If you're free tomorrow, let's go to a movie together.

It also works the other way. In quick speech, people drop 如果 and let 就 carry the "if" on its own.

你不想吃就别吃了。
- Pinyin: Nǐ bù xiǎng chī jiù bié chī le.
- English: If you don't want to eat it, don't.

While you are learning, keep both words. A sentence with 如果 and 就 is never wrong.

要是 vs. 如果: The Spoken Way to Say "If"

要是 (yàoshi) means exactly the same as 如果 and uses the same grammar. The difference is tone. 如果 is neutral and fits speech, emails and writing. 要是 sounds more relaxed, and you'll hear it all the time in everyday conversation, especially in northern China.

要是 + Condition，Subject + 就 + Result

要是堵车，我们就坐地铁。
- Pinyin: Yàoshi dǔ chē, wǒmen jiù zuò dìtiě.
- English: If there's traffic, we'll take the subway.

Note that the 是 in 要是 is usually light, close to a neutral tone: yàoshi, not yào shì.

假如: A More Written "If"

You will also meet 假如 (jiǎrú). It means "suppose" or "if," and it sounds more written. It is common in stories, articles and imagined situations. For daily life, 如果 and 要是 are all you need.

How to Use 如果…的话 in Chinese

的话 (dehuà) goes at the end of the condition. It doesn't add new meaning. It simply marks "this is the 'if' part," which makes long sentences easier to follow and makes the tone a little softer.

如果…的话 and 要是…的话

如果 / 要是 + Condition + 的话，Subject + 就 + Result

如果你不舒服的话，就请一天假吧。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ bù shūfu dehuà, jiù qǐng yì tiān jià ba.
- English: If you're not feeling well, take a day off.
要是明天下雨的话，比赛就改到下周。
- Pinyin: Yàoshi míngtiān xià yǔ dehuà, bǐsài jiù gǎi dào xià zhōu.
- English: If it rains tomorrow, the match will be moved to next week.

Just …的话

You can drop 如果 and keep only 的话. This is very common in speech, especially with short conditions.

有时间的话，来上海玩儿吧。
- Pinyin: Yǒu shíjiān dehuà, lái Shànghǎi wánr ba.
- English: If you have time, come and visit Shanghai.
不行的话，我明天再来。
- Pinyin: Bùxíng dehuà, wǒ míngtiān zài lái.
- English: If that doesn't work, I'll come back tomorrow.

How to Say "If Not" in Chinese: 如果不 and 如果没

To say "if not," put 不 or 没 after 如果, following the usual rules. Use 不 for wishes, habits and things that may happen. Use 没 for something that hasn't happened (yet). Our guide to 不 vs. 没 covers this choice in full.

如果明天不下雨，我们就去海边。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ míngtiān bú xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù qù hǎibiān.
- English: If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the beach.
如果你没吃早饭，就先吃点儿面包。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ méi chī zǎofàn, jiù xiān chī diǎnr miànbāo.
- English: If you haven't had breakfast, have some bread first.

Watch the tone of 不: it changes from bù to bú before a fourth tone, as in 不下雨 (bú xià yǔ).

How to Ask "What If" in Chinese: 如果…怎么办

To ask "what if," put the worrying situation after 如果 or 要是, then end with 怎么办 (zěnme bàn), "what do we do?"

如果 / 要是 + Situation + 怎么办？

如果我明天还发烧，怎么办？
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ wǒ míngtiān hái fāshāo, zěnme bàn?
- English: What if I still have a fever tomorrow?
要是我们赶不上火车怎么办？
- Pinyin: Yàoshi wǒmen gǎn bu shàng huǒchē zěnme bàn?
- English: What if we miss the train?

For a quick follow-up, 如果…呢？ is enough: 如果他不来呢？ (And what if he doesn't come?) For more on 怎么 and other question words, see our guide to Chinese question words.

Conditional Sentences in Chinese: Comparison Table

One pattern looks similar but means something else. 只要…就… means "as long as": the condition is enough to guarantee the result, while 如果 only sets up a possible situation. Our list of Chinese conjunctions covers both, along with 只有…才… ("only if").

Pattern	Pinyin	Meaning	Feel	Example	English
如果…就…	rúguǒ…jiù	if…then	neutral, speech and writing	如果你去，我就去。	If you go, I'll go.
要是…就…	yàoshi…jiù	if…then	casual, mostly spoken	要是堵车，我们就坐地铁。	If there's traffic, we'll take the subway.
假如…就…	jiǎrú…jiù	suppose, if	more written, imagined situations	假如我有一百万，我就去环游世界。	If I had a million, I'd travel the world.
(如果 / 要是)…的话	…dehuà	if	softer, marks the end of the condition	有时间的话，来玩儿吧。	Come over if you have time.
只要…就…	zhǐyào…jiù	as long as	the condition is enough	只要你每天练，就会进步。	As long as you practice every day, you'll improve.

如果…就… in Real Conversations

Dialogue 1: Weekend Plans

A：周末你想去爬山吗？
- Pinyin: Zhōumò nǐ xiǎng qù pá shān ma?
- English: Do you want to go hiking this weekend?
B：想去。不过如果下雨的话，就不去了。
- Pinyin: Xiǎng qù. Búguò rúguǒ xià yǔ dehuà, jiù bú qù le.
- English: I'd like to. But if it rains, I won't go.
A：要是下雨，我们就在家包饺子吧。
- Pinyin: Yàoshi xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù zài jiā bāo jiǎozi ba.
- English: If it rains, let's stay home and make dumplings.
B：好主意！那如果天气好呢？
- Pinyin: Hǎo zhǔyi! Nà rúguǒ tiānqì hǎo ne?
- English: Good idea! And what if the weather's nice?
A：天气好的话，我们早上七点出发。
- Pinyin: Tiānqì hǎo dehuà, wǒmen zǎoshang qī diǎn chūfā.
- English: If the weather's nice, we'll leave at seven in the morning.

Dialogue 2: Before a Job Interview

A：明天面试，我有点儿紧张。
- Pinyin: Míngtiān miànshì, wǒ yǒudiǎnr jǐnzhāng.
- English: I have an interview tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous.
B：别担心。如果他们问你以前的工作，你就说实话。
- Pinyin: Bié dānxīn. Rúguǒ tāmen wèn nǐ yǐqián de gōngzuò, nǐ jiù shuō shíhuà.
- English: Don't worry. If they ask about your last job, just tell the truth.
A：要是我听不懂他们的问题怎么办？
- Pinyin: Yàoshi wǒ tīng bu dǒng tāmen de wèntí zěnme bàn?
- English: What if I don't understand their questions?
B：听不懂的话，就请他们再说一遍。
- Pinyin: Tīng bu dǒng dehuà, jiù qǐng tāmen zài shuō yí biàn.
- English: If you don't understand, ask them to say it again.

Common Mistakes with 如果…就…

Mistake 1: Putting 就 Before the Second Subject

Wrong: 如果明天下雨，就我们在家看电影。
Right: 如果明天下雨，我们就在家看电影。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ míngtiān xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù zài jiā kàn diànyǐng.
- English: If it rains tomorrow, we'll watch a movie at home.

Mistake 2: Putting the "If" Part Last

English often puts "if" at the end. In Chinese, the condition comes first.

Wrong: 我就去，如果你去。
Right: 如果你去，我就去。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ qù, wǒ jiù qù.
- English: I'll go if you go.

Native speakers sometimes add an "if" part at the end as an afterthought, but as a learner, keep the condition first.

Mistake 3: Using 然后 for "Then"

然后 (ránhòu) means "after that," not "in that case." Use 就. Starting the second half with 那 (nà, "then") is also fine.

Wrong: 如果你饿了，然后我们去吃饭。
Right: 如果你饿了，我们就去吃饭。
- Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ è le, wǒmen jiù qù chī fàn.
- English: If you're hungry, we'll go and eat.

Mistake 4: Using 如果 for "Whether"

In English, "I don't know if he'll come" uses "if" to mean "whether." Chinese uses a yes-no question form for this, not 如果.

Wrong: 我不知道如果他会来。
Right: 我不知道他会不会来。
- Pinyin: Wǒ bù zhīdào tā huì bu huì lái.
- English: I don't know if he'll come.

Practice Quiz: 如果…就…

Answers are below.

Put the words in order: 就 / 如果 / 你 / 累了 / 休息一下 (If you're tired, take a rest.)
Fill in the blanks: ___ 你明天有空，我们 ___ 一起去吃火锅吧。 (If you're free tomorrow, let's go for hot pot.)
Fix the sentence: 要是你不喜欢这个颜色，就我们换一个。
Translate into Chinese: "What if the shop is closed?"
不 or 没? 如果你还 ___ 做完作业，就不能看电视。 (If you haven't finished your homework, you can't watch TV.)

Answers

如果你累了，就休息一下。 (Rúguǒ nǐ lèi le, jiù xiūxi yíxià.)
如果 (or 要是), 就: 如果你明天有空，我们就一起去吃火锅吧。 (Rúguǒ nǐ míngtiān yǒu kòng, wǒmen jiù yìqǐ qù chī huǒguō ba.)
要是你不喜欢这个颜色，我们就换一个。 (The second subject goes before 就.)
如果商店关门了怎么办？ (Rúguǒ shāngdiàn guān mén le zěnme bàn?) 要是 is also correct.
没: 如果你还没做完作业，就不能看电视。 The homework hasn't been finished, so you need 没.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say "if" in Chinese?

The most common word is 如果 (rúguǒ). Put it before the condition and put 就 (jiù) before the result: 如果你去，我就去 (If you go, I'll go). In casual speech, 要是 (yàoshi) means the same thing.

What is the difference between 如果 and 要是?

They mean the same thing and use the same grammar. 如果 is neutral and works in speech and in writing. 要是 sounds more relaxed and is mostly heard in conversation.

Do you always need 就 after 如果?

No, but it is the safe choice. 就 is normal when the result is a plan, a decision or a consequence. When the result is a suggestion or a question, like 我们一起去吧, people often leave it out.

What does 如果…的话 mean?

It means the same as 如果 on its own. 的话 (dehuà) closes the condition and makes the sentence sound a little softer and more spoken. You can also use …的话 without 如果, as in 有时间的话 (if you have time).

How do you say "what if" in Chinese?

Put 如果 or 要是 before the situation and 怎么办 (zěnme bàn) at the end: 要是我们赶不上火车怎么办？(What if we miss the train?) For a short follow-up question, 如果…呢？ also works.

What's Next

Once 如果…就… feels natural, try making a few plans for your week: what you'll do if it rains, if you finish work early, or if a friend is free.

Learn Chinese is free to download on iOS and Android, with HSK vocabulary, built-in audio, grammar lessons and practice tests to help you use 如果…就… with confidence. HSK 1 and 2 are free in full, and Learn Chinese Pro adds HSK 3 to 6.